This salad is comforting and flavour overload, perfect for colder months.
It is great as a stand alone light meal or alongside other dishes such as roasted meats.
I choose Jasberry rice for its lovely nutty flavour and extra nutrition. Also their story is heartwarming.
I like to use the lovely Urban Hippie miso paste from Nelson NZ.
The word Karaage is thought to mean “Chinese fried” and it is usually a method of cooking chicken.
This vegan alternative is easy to make and so very delicious.
Serve it as a shared plate at a meal or as a starter.
The same recipe can be used for chicken, use boneless chicken thighs chopped into 3cm chunks.
This slice is great for a gluten-free treat. Obviously check your ingredients for this though.
It its quick to make and is very popular in our house.
This is the most delicious lemon meringue pie I have personally ever tasted and it is all about the filling. Many recipes use a lemon curd but I find that with the addition of cream to the curd mixture, it creates a softer more balanced flavour and it is truly utterly delicious.
You don’t need to make your own pastry, buy a commercial sweet short pastry if you prefer. If doing so then ignore the first 5 ingredients.
Make sure the meringue is spooned onto a piping hot filling. This helps to cook the meringue so that it doesn’t need extended cooking time in the oven.
My teenagers really like this dish, the ingredient list may look long but it is essentially a full meal and the method is simple. You just need a simple green salad alongside.
Gochujang paste is from Korea, it is savoury, spicy and slightly sweet. You can find it at Asian food stores and in many supermarkets.
This is such a tasty dinner and only needs a simple green salad or steamed greens.
I usually sprinkle some roasted cashew nuts over just before serving.
Use whatever cut of chicken you prefer. I like chicken with bone and skin intact but it is up to you.
I make this in my 28cm cast iron frying pan. I have a lid that fits snugly and it is such an easy dinner. I make my own curry powder blend that has fennel and other aromatics but you can use your favourite bought brand.
This rich and hearty casserole is perfect for winter and while the ingredient list may look long, it is simple to make and can be made well ahead of time.
While we have used beef cheeks you can of course use any other stewing steak.
Kathy Paterson tells me she has been making this cheesecake for years and has no idea where the original recipe came from. Ben Hurst, a former rugby player for Canterbury gave her a similar one, but Ben’s uses lime zest and juice and he serves his cheesecake with a raspberry sauce.
Kathy has kindly shared her recipe with us.
It is creamy and luscious and perfect for entertaining.
It is a recipe that works well made the day before eating.
Check out Kathy’s website with her Let Bake Together recipes.
*Note from Helen, I deviated on the garnish of the cheesecake photographed to fresh raspberries and mint leaves.
Also with my oven after 30 minutes I increase the oven temperature to 140 C.
This winter pasta dish is so full of delicious flavours and textures. When Brussels sprouts are shredded and pan-fried the flavour and texture is fabulous.
The prosciutto can be served on the side to make it vegetarian suitable.
For those who like spice then some chilli flakes would be great as well.
The addition of black forest chocolate turns this from a simple hedgehog slice into something much more glamourous!
My friend Vic Brown is famous for her version, she gifts it to everyone and it is fondly known as Vickie slice.
*Recipe has been amended in the realisation that Cadbury’s Black Forest chocolate weighs 180g not 200g.
Growing up in NZ our chocolate chip biscuits were inherently small, crisp and usually contained small chips of chocolate and sweetened condensed milk.
My teens see these as a bit ho hum and instead like the American style cookies, filled with big chunks of molten chocolate that are delicious when eaten warm and then cool to a crisp on the outside and softish style biscuit.
After playing around with a few recipes including David Leite’s famous 36 hour cookies I have come up with a simple recipe that everyone is happy with.
For many of us this year has meant a reduction and income making it all the more necessary to spend wisely. We have put together 20 of our favourite economical tasty dinner recipes that will hopefully give you some winter inspiration but without breaking the bank. We also welcome your suggestions of course.
Have you tried Barker’s of Geraldine’s Tomato Sauce yet? In my post-Covid considered shopping I am happy to be supporting a Kiwi business using NZ-grown tomatoes, glass instead of plastic and the reduced salt and sugar are a bonus too.
Happy Cooking!
I am a huge bhaji fan and could never miss ordering them at an Indian or Sri Lankan restaurant.
These are exactly as I like them. Barely any batter but essentially onion bound together with a little egg, chickpea flour and spices.
We top ours with yoghurt, mint and a dollop or mango or tamarind chutney.
Thanks to Kit Perera from Chef For a Night for his wonderful Sri Lankan recipes and inspiration.
Most of us have been impacted in some way or another with the events over the last few months. With that in mind and thinking of well priced meals, here are 20 of our favourite dinners that have great flavour and also go easy on the wallet.
Photographed above is my favourite Kung Pao Chicken.
One of our teens makes herself Pasta Carbonara every other day for lunch or any other meal. Bacon can be swapped out for chopped cooked chicken and vegetables such as frozen peas add a fresh touch.
The humble stew is greatly enhanced with extra flavours such as our full flavoured Asian Beef Stew.
For a difference in flavour but also delicious is our Greek Beef Stew.
Beef Stew with Crunchy Topping is traditional stew topped with dollops of dough that then form crunchy little cheese and herb balls during cooking.
Spinach Tart has been one of my go to vegetarian tarts for some years. The flavours are similar to Spinach and Feta triangles but blended and poured into a tart.
A heartier tart is our Bacon Leek and Potato Tart, only needing some steamed greens or salad to make a complete meal.
Bakes are great winter dishes that are easy to make and low on dishes.
Our Chicken and Potato Bake is good simple family fare.
Chicken Pot Pie is on a similar style but with a pastry top instead of mashed potato.
Mince and Cheese Pie is one of my favourite pies and is sure to keep everyone happy.
Thai yellow curries are favourites in our house. Larger tubs are much more economical, I buy a pottle from our local Asian supermarket and keep it in the fridge for months. Yellow Chicken Curry is an obvious choice and another favourite is Pumpkin, Spinach and Chickpea Curry
The Swedes are known for making fabulous meatballs and there are those who go to Ikea just for the meatballs (Virgil Evetts Swedish Meatballs). Our Swedish Meatballs have a few modifications, (I can’t find ligonberries around here) but are truly delicious.
For those of us who like risotto then Chicken, Pumpkin and Leek is surely one of the loveliest of gentle winter combinations.
If you want a change from rice risotto then don’t overlook our Mushroom Prosciutto Barley Risotto, this recipe is also slow cooker friendly.
Dahl is a simple yet hearty meal, this Red Lentil Dahl with Kumara can be made with stock or try taking out some stock and replacing it with coconut milk. To make it a complete meal double the spinach and you have your food groups covered.
Deliciousness in simplicity is Pasta with Broccoli and sprinkled with toasted crumbs, olives, anchovies etc…
Family Favourite Hearty Meatloaf makes a delicious family dinner and is large enough that there are sure to be slices left for doorstop sandwiches the next day.
Quiche flavours are completely personal, For the filling I usually work on 1 egg to 100ml cream regardless of other flavours. Ham, Corn and Cheese Quiche is a good family friendly quiche, tuna chunks can swapped out for the ham.
